WNBA Finals Game 4 Picks: Back Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese Rebounds

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have been putting on poor shooting performances in the WNBA Finals but it looks like the Dream found compasses that showed where the baskets were located in Game 3.

Because of 49.3% shooting that night during a convincing 97-71 whipping of the Valkyries, Atlanta has the opportunity to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven finals on Saturday afternoon. The Dream also will be at home once again to better their chances of eventually winning their first WNBA title.

Golden State was known for defense during its surprise stellar season but it will need to clamp down more than ever to even the series. The Valkyries don’t have the firepower to play high-scoring contests.

SHOOTING AND PASSING HAVE BEEN TOUGH CHORES FOR THE VALKYRIES

Golden State has shot 32.1, 34.4 and 34.8% during the first three games and will need to be vastly improved in Game 4. The ball-handling also has been poor with 36 turnovers over the past two games – 19 in Game 2, 17 in Game 3 – and the Valkyries seem at a loss to shed Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, who has 11 steals over the past two games.

Factor in that Dream center Angel Reese (21.7 points, 13.3 rebounds per game in the series) is doing anything she wants in the interior and the Dream is in stellar shape. Atlanta shot 32.8 and 33.9% over the first two games before the offense perked up behind Reese (21 points) and Howard (16).

Whenever a coach or players on a team say they are doing things that are uncharacteristic of them, you know they are being strongly affected by the playoff pressure. So Golden State’s plethora of turnovers over the past two games speak volumes and all signs point to Atlanta taking care of business at home in Game 4.

Dream to win -4.5 spread, -115 (DraftKings)

CAN ANYONE HERE BLOCK OUT ANGEL REESE?

Valkyries owner Joe Lacob and coach Natalie Nakase anointed Gabby Williams (20-plus points, +103) as the best woman’s player in the world before the series and that might not have been the smartest thing to do. Williams has succumbed to the Finals pressure by making just 29.1% of her shots (16 of 55) and is averaging a respectable 18.3 points due to the high volume of shots.

Reese (18-plus points, +113, 13-plus rebounds, +104) is on her way to WNBA Finals MVP honors if she continues to play the way she has. Golden State’s best big player, Kiah Stokes, has been unable to corral Reese and Atlanta has repeatedly taken advantage of the Valkyries’ lack of interior depth.

Allisha Gray (18-plus points, +129) has been plagued by a hand injury while Howard (15-plus points, -128) hasn’t scored more than 16 points in the series. Williams is due to have a solid-shooting affair but the consistent number of clanks from Golden State shots makes Reese the rebounder as the most enticing pick.

Angel Reese to collect 13-plus rebounds, +104 (DraftKings)